With the striking pourakarmikas in Mysuru remaining firm and unyielding on their demands, resulting in complete breakdown of sanitation services and disposal of solid wastes across the city, all eyes are on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s meeting with the leaders of pourakarmikas on Tuesday for resolving the imbroglio which has turned the city into a garbage mess with only two days left for the famed Dasara festivities to unfold here.
On the appeal from the Mysuru District Administration and the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), the permanent pourakarmikas, who had also struck work in support of the strike, have reportedly resumed work and clearing piles of solid wastes mounted up on the streets and in the fruit, vegetable and meat markets.
Former Mayor and pourakarmikas’ leader Narayan told reporters here on Monday that the meeting with the CM was earlier scheduled in Bengaluru on Tuesday but Minister for Tourism S R Mahesh told him that the Chief Minister will be holding talks with us in Mysuru itself as he will be arriving here in view of Dasara. “I’m also positive about Tuesday’s meeting,” he replied.
The pourakarmikas’ demands do not result in any major financial burden to the government, he added.
Mr Narayan said the demands include payment of salaries directly to pourakarmikas under contract instead of through the contractors; considering UGD workers as pourakarmikas instead of helpers; serving breakfast to pourakarmikas which was promised in 2015; payment of three-year arrears of breakfast scheme and appointing one pourakarmika for a population of 500 instead of 700. “We have no other demands besides these,” he clarified.
Mr Narayan, who earlier headed the Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Commission, warned of pourakarmikas going on strike across the State if the government refuses to fulfil their demands. The permanent pourakarmikas, who are on duty now here, will also join the strike again if the talks with the CM fail, he added.
Mr Narayan, however, said the agitators will not come in the way of permanent pourakarmikas cleaning up the city and throw trash on the roads as a mark of protest.
MCC Commissioner K H Jagadish claimed that 70 percent of solid wastes accrued across the city had been cleared with the permanent pourakarmikas working since Sunday. “The leaders said they will cooperate in view of festivities. We are also roping in 300 additional workers for stepping up sanitation services and city cleaning on account of Dasara,” he said.
MCC Health Officer Dr D G Nagaraj, Pourakarmika leaders Manchaiah, Mara and others were present.
Meanwhile, the striking pourakarmikas were getting support from various quarters with the agitation entering sixth day on Monday. The protestors outside the MCC office raised slogans against the government for not fulfilling their legitimate demands that had been fulfilled by some city corporations in the State.
Some residents of Vijayanagar 2nd Stage here volunteered to collect waste generated in the households with no relief in sight over the strike.
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